BY: CASSANDRA SPRIGG
ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER – SOUTH BEND

It’s no secret to anyone who has ever worked for, or visited Holladay Properties…

We like to eat.

On Thursday August 30th, our South Bend corporate office hosted a cookout to celebrate the end of our 3rd quarter.

Assistant Property Manager Cassie Sprigg organizing the condiments.

Administrative Assistant Shelby Seifer and Assistant Property Manager Cassie Sprigg set up a table in the lobby of 227 South Main Street, and filled it with burger and hotdog buns, cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, potato and macaroni salad, chips, fruit, pop, water and ice cream sandwiches, while Property Manager Elliot Lusk grilled enough burgers (beef and veggie) and hotdogs to feed 50 people.

“Grill-Master” and Property Manager Elliot Lusk firing up the first round of burgers.

With the weather being perfect at 67° and sunny, staff from Holladay Properties, Holladay Construction Group, Edward Jones and Northern Indiana Federal Community Defenders soon began arriving to enjoy a delicious meal under the sun.

You must be wondering: When’s the next Holladay Properties foodie event?

You won’t have to wait too long! Our Indianapolis office is hosting a Food Truck Event on September 5th from 11 AM – 2 PM. If you’re in the AmeriPlex or Decatur Township area, feel free to stop by and enjoy delectable handhelds from Edward’s Dashboard Diner!

It has been a while since we posted about our employees’ favorite projects – the buildings and developments that they have enjoyed working on or for most during their time with us. We’re very excited to jump back into our “The Favorites” series with this post! In Part VI we’re sharing thoughts from a variety of Holladay divisions, including development, architecture and design, and property management. So read on to find out which projects they love best!

I love the Home 2 Suites project at Ameriplex Indy! I get to drive by it on my way to and from work all week. It’s amazing how much it changes even day to day! It’s been my favorite because I have gotten to see it progress from day one. It’s this physical structure that I contribute to in some small way every day and it’s wonderful to see that manifest itself in front of me.

We are a couple weeks away from completing the replacement of a 340-space parking garage in Orlando, FL. The total project cost is approximately $12.5 million and we have been working on it for 2 years. They are currently pouring the ramp to the lower level of garage and applying the waterproof traffic material on the upper level!

Property Management and Development will have an executed lease renewal agreement with Batesville Casket this week for the Midway building. Batesville is renewing their lease for another 5 years and will under go $250,000 in tenant improvement’s over the next 4 months!

We are very excited in the Richmond office to be working on the new TRU by Hilton in Baltimore’s Harbor Point area. This is TRU’s first urban location and a new market for us. This will be an eight story 140 room hotel geared towards the millennial business and tourist traveler. We are hoping to begin construction in October with a December 2019 opening!

Portage Place – South Bend, Indiana
John Phair – President and Chief Executive Officer; Joined Holladay (when it was a part of the Holladay Corporation) in 1978

My favorite is still my first development with Holladay Corporation.

About 2 ½ months before joining Wally Holladay officially, I accepted a position with his firm. My wife had a baby on the way and I could not afford to change jobs until the baby came – I needed health insurance!

But I started to work evenings with a local designer on a 96 unit apartment addition to a 408 unit project known as Portage Place located at Portage Rd & the Toll Road in South Bend. Wally owned the complex. The one thing I knew how to do was ‘finance’ it. I worked on that and got a commitment.

The local designer and I worked for about two months nightly (he also had a day job). We ended up with a plan for 6 buildings, 96 one & two bedroom apartments. And 150 parking spaces. Not having ever designed anything, I thought these were the most beautiful apartments ever created-on paper! I had to pay a local retired architect to ‘sign’ the plans and then applied for a building permit-also a first for me.

Then my wife had our 2nd child.

I also signed the loan commitment for the bank that day.

The next day I resigned my bankers job and went to work for The Holladay Corporation and took over their Midwest office-of which I was the only employee! And I then signed that loan commitment, now representing the developer!

Shortly thereafter, I started visiting every apartment and residential site in the area looking for ‘bidders and subcontractors”. I ended up hiring a local General Contractor to provide a superintendent (who I eventually hired directly) and got their local support.

A few weeks later we had our bids, started the construction and 8 months later opened the units and were 95% occupied 4 months later. I made my last construction draw to the bank. And I did not have any bills to pay and still had over $75,000 left from the construction loan (no equity required!). I proudly traipsed off to Washington DC and handed that check to Wally along with a 95% occupied apartment complex and my accounting records. They consisted of 9 check books-each a different color-but, somehow, I could account for every penny. It was a little easier than a YARDI system!

We sold that project about 10 years later but I still check it out every time I drive by. And I wish we still owned it!

BY: Cassandra Sprigg
Assistant Property Manager – South Bend

At Holladay Properties we take our health very seriously. In part, because we want our employees to have great quality of life, but also because we love our sweets. With the seemingly constant presence of delicious goodies around the office, many employees have adopted small practices to combat their toll on the waistline. Here are a few of the techniques our South Bend employees have chosen:

EXERCISE BALL FOR A CHAIR

IT Assistant Amy Church uses a large exercise ball, as opposed to a traditional, ergonomic chair. It is believed that using the ball activates the muscles in the back and abdomen, increasing core strength and improving posture.

STANDING DESK

Multiple people at the office have upgraded to standing desks. This allows the user to lift their computer stations up, and comfortably use them while in a standing position. Many claim that using a standing desk helps to increase productivity and burn a few extra calories with minimal effort.

WALKING CLUB

A South Bend office summer tradition, the Walking Club invites employees to spend the summer months walking designated multi-mile routes with their coworkers during their lunch hours. Participants are challenged to walk a minimum of 60 miles from the start of the program in May through its end in August. As an added incentive, monetary prizes are given to the club member who walks the most miles, and any club member who walks 5 miles over their previous year’s total. HR Director Maureen Johnson, sporting her “Train Hard” t-shirt after a long walk, is a big fan of and long-time participant in the Walking Club.

What are your tips and tricks for keeping healthy at the office?Share in the comments, below!

In our previous blog entry we introduced you to our new Property Manager for Burlington Station Luxury Residences Cara Pagels, and IT Assistant Amy Church. In continuing the Getting to Know Them series, our Director of Marketing Amanda Watson recently reached out to the interns who are assisting in our Development departments this summer: Robert Rumer, Bill Robinson and Garrett Camaren. Read more about them below!

Where do you come to Holladay from? How long will you be serving as an intern?

ROBERT: I just finished my first year of business school at Notre Dame, where I’m getting my MBA. Before returning to school I worked for five years on a trading desk at SEI Investments outside of Philadelphia. I got my bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, and hadn’t lived outside of Pennsylvania before moving to South Bend, IN. I’ll be serving as an intern from mid-May until returning to school in August.

BILL: I’m a current MBA student at Vanderbilt. Prior to moving to Nashville, I was a civil engineer in Dallas. I’ll be with Holladay until returning to school in August.

GARRETT: I came to Holladay Properties from the Mendoza College of Business MBA Program at Notre Dame. Prior to Mendoza I worked in finance at Northern Trust and social work at Barton Healthcare.

What are/will be your primary duties at Holladay?

ROBERT: As an intern I’ll be working on a number of projects this summer, mostly with the development and asset management teams, although I’ve been told it should be an evolving role as the summer progresses.

BILL: I’m working with the Development team assisting with acquisitions, redevelopment, leasing, and active/potential development projects.

GARRETT: My primary duties at Holladay will be providing assistance for the Downers Grove Burlington Station project and the Promenade at Founder’s Square project.

What is your title?

ROBERT: My official title is “Commercial Real Estate Development MBA Intern.”

BILL: Development Intern.

GARRETT: My title is “Development Analyst.”

Why did you decide to join the Holladay team?

ROBERT: I decided to join the team because I wanted to work in commercial real estate, and Holladay provided a great opportunity for hands-on experience. When I came for my interview everyone was really welcoming and they were excited about potential projects for the summer; they made it feel like a good fit for me.

BILL: I was impressed by the scope of work Holladay was doing as well as the opportunity to experience a wide variety of projects and tasks. I also appreciated the team and the atmosphere of the office.

GARRETT: I decided to join the Holladay team because I had an excellent interview experience with both Drew Mitchell and Maureen Johnson.

What are you most excited/nervous about for your time with Holladay?

ROBERT: As someone without a real estate background, I’m excited to get to know everyone and learn from their experience in commercial real estate. In my short time here I’ve already learned that there’s so many differences between investing in real estate versus public markets, and I’m excited about working on some of the projects this summer to learn the trade.

BILL: I’m most excited about seeing all that goes into a successful project and taking another step toward realizing my dream of working in commercial real estate!

GARRETT: Everyone I have worked with has been very warm and encouraging. This is such an amazing opportunity and I am most excited about being able to work with such a welcoming community.

Our South Bend team has been growing rapidly over the past few weeks. In April, we hired two talented women to assist with our Property Management and IT departments: Cara Pagels and Amy Church. They recently sat down and shared with us a bit about themselves, what they do for the company and why they chose to work for Holladay Properties. Learn more about our new hires straight from the sources, below!

Cara Pagels & Amy Church

We are so happy to welcome you to our team! Please tell us a bit about your positions.

CARA: I am thrilled to join the Holladay Properties team as Property Manager at Burlington Station in Downtown Downers Grove – my hometown! Once Burlington Station’s construction is complete, I will lead day-to-day operations, leasing, and manage maintenance for our 89-unit community. I love Burlington Station’s convenient location, architecture tailor made for Downers Grove, and the variety of lifestyles offered to residents.

AMY: As the I/T Assistant, I am here to assist Bill (I/T Director) in serving the internal community with their technology needs both directly and indirectly behind the scenes.

Where do you come to Holladay from?

CARA: Prior to joining Holladay Properties, I worked with a top producing multi-generational family residential real estate team, lived in South Korea teaching elementary school, and founded my own non-profit called Marrow Me Cara. Marrow Me Cara recruits lifesaving marrow donors to the National Bone Marrow Registry. Through our efforts, thousands of marrow donors joined the registry and 16 donors (and counting!) have been matched to patients in need of a lifesaving transplant.

AMY: For the last year and half I have been homeschooling my three children (15,13,12). Previous to that I spent the greater part of 15 years leading the IT team with a local engineering and architectural firm.

How long have you been doing what you do?

CARA: Fresh to Property Management, I come from 4 generations of real estate professionals which include my great-great-aunt, grandmother, mother, aunt, and sister. Real estate is in my blood! I am thrilled to make an impact in managing my favorite property in Downers Grove and to create a community that is home to many.

AMY: I have been providing support and maintaining the technical systems for organizations for 20+ years.

What do you love most about your work?

CARA: The people and the stories! Meeting people from all walks of life is truly my favorite part of property management. Not many others have the honor of helping people create their desired lifestyle by helping find their nest. Also, the opportunity to witness all phases of the construction process of Burlington Station has been fascinating. I can’t wait for residents to move in after the years of planning and building!

AMY: Helping people make their jobs/lives easier with technology. I love to see people’s faces light up when I make a change or teach them something that saves them time and reduces frustration.

Do you have any hobbies or passions outside of the office?

CARA: Volunteering, foreign language, wellness, and learning to cook international foods. Anything cooked with kimchi (spicy Korean cabbage) is a winner in my book. If you haven’t tried kimchi before and can handle a little spice, let’s talk!

AMY: My hobbies and passions are my husband and my three beautiful children. Every moment with them is precious.

What made you choose Holladay?

CARA: I choose Holladay for its strong leadership and commitment to bettering local communities. We have a really great group of people here that strongly values community development from involvement with Boys and Girls Club, to building Hannah’s Hope inclusive playground in Portage, Indiana.

AMY: I was drawn to the team atmosphere I sensed when meeting with various employees and the value of a healthy work/personal life balance.

Anything else you’d like to share?

CARA: I’m a Hoosier too and was born in Indianapolis. Another fun fact: my great-great-aunt was the first female to get her brokerage license in the state of Indiana.

BY: CASSANDRA SPRIGG
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR – SOUTH BEND, IN

April 27thwas a night for celebration. Under the soft lighting of the Gillespie Conference & Event Center Ballroom, hundreds of guests watched as President and CEO John Phair rode a green bicycle onstage to accept the award for the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County’s “Greatest Big Kid” of 2018.

As everyone knows, John has always had a servant’s heart. Throughout the years, giving back to the community has been a passion of his. This year, one of the ways he chose to give back to St. Joseph County was by participating in the Boys & Girls Club’s annual Greatest Kids Fundraiser. The event paired six local leaders with youths who were nominated for “Youth of the Year,” to raise money in support of theorganization which currently serves over 1,100 children in South Bend and Mishawaka. John and his partner, a young man named KaSaun, quickly became friends as they began fundraising as Team Green. Through social media platforms, social gatherings and word-of-mouth, patrons were encouraged to learn more about the wonderful work of the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County, and pledge their votes ($50 each) for Team Green. After a few hard months of fundraising, participants and their guests gathered together to see the results and crown a winneras well as recognize the “Youth of the Year”.

Dressed in vibrant green suits, John and KaSaun arrived at the Gillespie Center on the night of the award ceremony and live auction, excited to see the final results of their efforts. Each team had decorated their tables in their respective colors to show their spirit, and Team Green’s did not disappoint. Their table was adorned with an impressive mountain of bright green glowsticks, and other eyecatching trinkets. Several of our Holladay Properties Partners joined in on the fun, dressed in different shades of green, as well. One – who shall not be named – even donned a ‘Green Man’ costume, to act as a team mascot.

With the completion of the live auction, it was finally time to award the victors. After earning an impressive 1,610 votes, it was announced that Team Green had raised over $80,500, making them the overall winners! John proudly accepted his crystal crown for 2018’s Greatest Big Kid, as the crowd cheered on. “…Lots of laughter and enjoyment was shared by the over 500 guests,” Partner and Sr. Vice President of Development Manette Tepe described of the event. “Not only was the evening a lot of fun but it was a HUGE success. We are still counting but at this time we have raised over $400k!”

We have always known John is a big kid at heart. Now the community knows he is the Greatest.